Vibrating debris remover

Abstract

This invention relates to a device which may be permanently attached or removably attached to a material, such as a vehicular glass window. This device may comprise of a converter sub-unit or vibrator and a coupler. These elements may be arranged to propagate mechanical motion generated by the converter sub-unit through the coupler and optionally into the edge of the attached material. The resulting vibration motion in the material, which could take the form of a longitudinal compression/rarefaction wave, transverse wave, or a combination of the two waveforms, may be of a sufficient magnitude so as to cause the adhesive bond between the material's surface and other solid debris, such as ice, to be broken. This allows the debris to fall away while not damaging the material. The vibration motion in the material may be also of sufficient magnitude to remove a liquid such as water from the material surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of removing debris from a material, comprising the steps of:
 providing a material having debris attached, wherein the material has a major dimension and a minor dimension defining an edge; 
 providing a vibrator; 
 providing a coupler having a first end and a second end, the first end being operably engaged with the vibrator, the second end being operably engaged and in direct contact with the edge of the material such that vibrations generated by the vibrator are transferred via the coupler into the material; 
 actuating the vibrator. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, a cross-sectional area of the coupler at the first end is greater than a cross-sectional area of the coupler at the second end, and wherein the change in cross-sectional area between the first end of the coupler and the second end of the coupler is stepped. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, a cross-sectional area of the coupler at the first end is greater than a cross-sectional area of the coupler at the second end, and wherein the change in cross-sectional area between the first end of the coupler and the second end of the coupler is linear. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein, a cross-sectional area of the coupler at the first end is greater than a cross-sectional area of the coupler at the second end, and wherein the change in cross-sectional area between the first end of the coupler and the second end of the coupler is curved. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator transforms energy selected from the group consisting of: electrical, pneumatic, and fluid energy. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator, coupler, and material each have an impedance, the impedance of the vibrator being substantially equal to the impedance of the coupler. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the impedance of the coupler is substantially equal to the impedance of the material. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator, coupler, and material each have an impedance, the impedance of the coupler being substantially equal to the impedance of the material. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vibrator includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis, the vibrator reciprocating the shaft axially. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is compressively attached to the material. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is mechanically attached to the material. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is adhesively attached to the material. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is removably attached to the material. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the material is glass. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the material is a windshield. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the material has a plurality of resonant frequencies, including a fundamental resonant frequency and multiples of the fundamental resonant frequency; and,
 the vibrator is actuated at one of the resonant frequencies of the material. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the coupler is operably engaged and in direct contact with the edge of the material such that vibrations generated by the vibrator are transferred via the coupler into the material and generate longitudinal motion in the material. 
     
     
       18. A method of removing debris from a material, comprising the steps of:
 providing a material having a plurality of resonant frequencies, including a fundamental resonant frequency and multiples of the fundamental resonant frequency; 
 determining the fundamental resonant frequency of the material by dividing the velocity of sound through the material by two times the length of the material; 
 providing a converter unit that produces mechanical motion at an output; 
 providing a coupler operably engaged with the converter unit output and operably engaged and in direct contact with the edge of the material; and, 
 actuating the converter unit and vibrating the coupler at a frequency substantially equal to one of the resonant frequencies of the material. 
 
     
     
       19. A method of removing debris from a material, the material having a major dimension, and a minor dimension defining an edge, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a source of mechanical motion; 
 providing a coupler unit having a first portion operably engaged with an output of the mechanical motion source, and a second portion attached to the edge of the material; and, 
 actuating the source of mechanical motion to transfer mechanical motion into the material at an angle approximately perpendicular to the edge of the material. 
 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the material has a plurality of resonant frequencies, including a fundamental resonant frequency and multiples of the fundamental resonant frequency, and the mechanical motion is vibratory motion; and
 the source of vibratory motion is actuated at one of the resonant frequencies of the material.